We’ve selected a few of the latest new geographic, host and species records for plant pests and diseases from CAB Abstracts. Records this fortnight include a first report of snow mould (Typhula cf. subvariabilis) in Antarctica, the first report of Drosophila suzukii and the black locust gall midge (Obolodiplosis robiniae) in Poland.

Victoriano Eduardo Núñez Cuba, Melancio Huamani García and Aníbal N. Huarancca are three Plant Doctors from the Experimental Station Canaán (INIA) in Ayacucho-Peru. Part of a Plant Doctor’s work is to visit farmers to provide information related to the diagnosis, prevention, control, management and economic importance of the pests and diseases affecting various crops in the region. The Plant Doctors also provide technical training to farmers. The objective is to support smallholder farmers by providing appropriate technical assistance aimed at increasing crop yields and improving family income. By improving the plant health system in their country, Victoriano, Melancio and Aníbal play a key role in Plantwise that directly impacts food security and nutrition of smallholder farmers and their families. Let’s follow them for a day!

Since 2012, the Plantwise Afghanistan team, including Muhammad Faheem as Country Coordinator, Dr Babar Ehsan Bajwa as Regional Director for CABI Central and West Asia and Julien Lamontagne-Godwin as European Support Staff from the CABI UK centre, has been increasingly involved in the agricultural development of the country. As the programme has gone from strength to strength, it has not only grown its clinic network, but also engaged regularly with the various stakeholders involved in the country’s agricultural system.

The National Forum is one of the many stakeholder engagement tools at the programme’s disposal, and it was used to full effect in March 2014. Continue reading →

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If you are active in the field of plant health or development and would like to contribute to the Plantwise Blog, please contact Donna Hutchinson. We are happy to post any credible articles that we think would be of interest to our readership.

Views expressed in contributions do not necessarily reflect official CABI or Plantwise positions.